Glider aeroplane



Dec. 15 1925,.

1,565,953 J. PoNsoLLE ET AL GLIDER AEROPLANE J. PONSOLLE ET AL v GLIDER AEROPLANE Filed Nov. 1. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

JEAN PONSOLLE AND MARCELVERGNOU, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GLIDER AEROFLANE.

Application filed November To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, JEAN PoNsoLLn and MARCEL VERGNOU, residing in New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Glider' Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification. p

This invention relates generally to aeroplanes, flying machines, particularly of the glider type, and the present invention has for its prime object the provision of new and improved aeroplane, which is nonrigid, and more or less fiexible. y

Another object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane ofthe above type, which is designed to remain in the air with the motive power shut off, and is so constructed that the upper or lifting plane can be distorted into the form of a parachute.

A further object of the invention is to Iprovide an aeroplane comprising a kite-like structure, of such construction that the space through which the air passes between the planes may be varied at will, thereby varying the pressure being exerted upon the lifting plane.

Other objects and 'aims of the invention, more or less specific than those referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles, constituting the invention; and the scope' of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In vthe accompanying drawings, wherein we have illustrated a preferred form of embodiment of our invention: y

Figure 1 is an elevational view of our improved aeroplane.

Figure 2 is afront view thereof.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the aero plane. p

Figure 4 is a view in perspective, showing the appearance of the aeroplane when.

the same is in flight, and

Figure 5 isa side elevational View with the parts of the aeroplane in the position shown in Figure 4:.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views ofthe drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates the fuselage or frame of the aeroplane, havF 1, 1923. Serial No. 672,033.

ing the usual wheels, at the rear end of which fuselage is provided a motor 3, driving the propeller 4. It is intended that the motive power provided for the aeroplane shall be of low power, in fact, to possess just sufficient power to elevate the aeroplane. Suitable guards 5 and 6 are provided respectively at the front and iear end of the fuselage. The fuselage is provided with the usual braces 7 and the operator seat 8, which is located adjacent the various control levers, indicated generally at 9, presently to be described. In actual practice the fuselage and associated parts may be made of very light construction, preferably of a wood, such for instance as bamboo.

Erected upon the fuselage, and extending upwardly therefrom, are the masts 10 and 11, which are preferably braced at their upper end by the frame 12, which is adapted to connect the upper ends of said masts rigidly together, to prevent lateral displace ment of the upper end of said masts.

The upper plane is indicated at 13, and to the latter edges of this plane are attached strips of wood 14; and 15, preferably formed of bamboo. Extending .from the lateral edges of the plane 13 inwardly and downwardly, are the wings 16 and 17, said wings being of triangular formation, with the apeXes of the triangles meeting at the point 18, directly above the fuselage. These triangular wings or planes do not extend the entire length of the lifting plane, but terminate short of the rear end thereof, for instance at the point 19 of Fig. 1. These planes or wings are also bound with bamboo strips indicated at 2O.V

The plane 13, whichis preferably formed of cloth, has attached thereto at its central portion, a length of flexible material, such as bamboo, indicated at 21. This strip, which extends directly rearwardly parallel with the lateral Vedges of the plane, is securely attached to the cloth forming the plane 13. The masts 10 and 11 extend through the plane 13.

Attached to the flexible strip 21 at various places along its length, are control wires or ropes 22, 23, 24 and 25, which controlling members pass over pulleys or sheaves 26, which control ropes or wires are operated from the control. indicated at 9. One or more of these control ropes may also be operated by the foot of the operator from the control 27.

rThe object of the construction just described is to permit the operator to distort the plane 13 in the manner indicated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, that is to say, the plane 13 may be bowed or bellied in an upward direction by exerting stress through the control upon the strip 21. At the same time the rear and front ends of the plane may be pulled downwardly, as indicated'in Fig. 5. Y

vThe object of this construction is to vary the space between the plane 13, and the triangular shaped planes or wings 16, so that a greater or lessY amount of air will pass through the planes, as a result of which greater or less pressure is exerted upon the lifting plane.

Mounted upon the planes 16 and 17, underneath the same, are the triangular frames 284 and 29, preferably formed of bamboo, and eachy of these frames is provided with a triangular strip of fabric, said strip being indicated at and 31. These strips 30 are adapted to be swung upwardly and downwardly, as by means of the control wires 32 and 33,whereby either one of them may be swung to a `position at 'right angles to the plane, as indicated in Figure 2. These parts, therefore, operate as rudders, by reason of the fact that theycan be manipulated to interpose varying resistance tov4 the tra vel of the; plane at either'side thereof, causing the plane toA swing in a direction depending upon whichv of the rudders is raised to its operative position,

Located at the rear end of the plane 13, and fastened thereto so that it may be swung upwardly, is a stabilizer 34'. This stabilizer merely consists of astrip of cloth suspended looselydirectly behind the plane 1:1. This strip may be swung upwardly as by means of thecontrol wires 35, attached to the free corners thereof, as indicated in Fi ures'l and 2: of the drawings.

Having thus described the. construction of this embodiment of our invention,'the operation, which should be largely understood, is substantially as follows lt is intended that'the plane 13, when the parts are in normal position,'shall be: disposed approximately as illustrated in Figures 2v and 3, the plane being disposed at an oblique angle to thehorizontal, and

inclining` from the front to rear. lilith the parts in this positionfthe plane is ready to ascend under the power of the engine.

lt is intended that this aeroplane shall be'directed against air currents, so that the air currents will pass rearwardly beneath the lifting plane 13, and above the triangular planes or wings 1G and 1T. l"hen the plane has been suliiciently lifted in the face of a head-wind, the motive power can be lshut olf, and the plane thereafter operated as a glider. rilie operator can then distort the lifting plane, as above set forth, by lifting the strip 21 by means of the control F wires, whereby a greater amount of air will pass through the plane, thereby exerting` a greater pressure on the lifting plane. The rudders will then, of course, be operated as above described, to maintain the planes in a direction parallel to the direction of the air current.

It will be noted that the centre of gravity of the aeroplane is located at a considerable distance below the plane 13, and that said plane has more or less of a parachute action.

It will accordingly be seen that we ha provided a construction well adapted to attain, among others, all the ends and objects above pointed out, and have provided an aeroplane of exceedingly light construction which may be operated by motive power, or as a glider.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departing from the scope of the following claims, it is intended that all matter-contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting` sense.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. 1n an aeroplane of the type described, l-ho combination with a fuselage having an engine located at the war end thereof, a tlcxihle plane located above the fuselage, one or more masts erected upon the fuselage, and extending upwardly through the flexible pl ane, said flexible plane being provided with a longitudinally extending centrally located flexible strip, and a plurality of means for bending various parts of said strip in an upward direction under the control. of the operator.

2. ln an aeroplane of the class described the combination with a fuselage having an engine located at the rear end thereof, a flexible-plane located above the fuselage, a

-pair of planes or wings attached to the side edges of the flexible plane, extending downwardly and inwardly to the fuselage, and being connected thereto, said flexible plane being provided with a-centrally disposed longitudinally extending flexible member, and a plurality of control devices attached to said iiexible member, whereby it may be bent or distorted in an upward direction.

3. In an aeroplane of the class described the combination with a fuselage having an engine located at the rear end thereof, a flexible plane located above the fuselage, a pair of plane-s or wings attached 'tothe side c lges of the flexible plane, extending downwardly and inwardly to thefuselage, and

being connected thereto, said flexible plane beneath seid triangular planes or wings, being provided with e centrally disposed and means whereby said rudders may be longitudinally extendingr flexible member, operated. 10 and a plurality of control devices attached In testimony whereof, we allix our signa- 5 to said flexible member, whereby it may be tllleS- bent or distorted in an upward direction, e J EAN PONSOLLE. rudder carried upon either side of the plane MARCEL VERGNOU. vil 

